Irishcolleen

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  1. Like
    Irishcolleen reacted to NightSG in Dress code has changed for Elders in some missions   
    White shirt! Bishop, do you want me to pass the Sacrament?
  2. Like
    Irishcolleen reacted to prisonchaplain in What will post-resurrection life be like?   
    Here's a "suppose":  If you had never heard of our pre-earth beliefs or our deification beliefs, and (as I asked about previously) we focus on just the first two points of the OP, I believe, much of what we believe could be compatible with similar beliefs by other faiths. 
    Example:
    "We will have glorified bodies."
     
    This is pretty much what we believe.  We believe in a resurrection.  We will have our bodies and spirits re-united.  I will be in an exalted and perfect form.  Sounds like "glorified bodies" to me.  I had asked for more details on your side.  But it sounded like your side is "it has not been revealed to us".  So, my last question was:
     
    If you don't know what the "glorified bodies" will be like, is it too far a stretch to believe that the LDS beliefs on that matter are in reality compatible with what you already believe?
     
    The sticking point is whether we can become capital-G Gods.  Whether the distinction between "glorified bodies" and "Gods" is nanometer-thin or an infinite chasm, it is a distinction which I doubt either LDS or traditional Christian would attempt to reconcile.
     
    I'd ask a similar question of point #2.
     
    And again, the distinction between "ruling and reigning with Christ" and becoming God-rulers, regardless of how large or small that is, is a distinction that neither side would attempt to reconcile...at least I wouldn't think so.
  3. Like
    Irishcolleen reacted to prisonchaplain in What will post-resurrection life be like?   
    The whole "grace vs. works or faith/works" discussion can be so muddy.  It may help we framed the discussion around the issue of gaining admission into the Celestial Kingdom.  Can that be done by faith in Christ alone, with works serving as proof of the salvation already won by Christ?  I ask this because, if I understand right, faith in Christ is not a prerequisite of entry into the lower kingdoms.
  4. Like
    Irishcolleen got a reaction from prisonchaplain in What will post-resurrection life be like?   
    I believe that salvation is by faith alone, (Eph 2:8-9). The Bible says there is none righteous and that all our works are filthy rags.  God's standard of righteousness is perfect holiness, in actions, thought and our hearts. The only one who has met that standard is Christ. That is why He was the only one who could be a sacrifice to pay for our sin.  The only righteousness I have is what has been imputed to me through Christ (Phil 3:9, Gal. 2:16). If salvation was by works, God would owe it to me based on my performance.  It would be wages, not a gift (Rom 11:6).
     
    This does not mean I thinks works are unimportant. Works are more effective at leading people to Christ that words. My faith without works will produce nothing- essentially dead, not reproducing, not growing, not working. My works are motivated out of love for God (most of the time. I am far from perfect and sometimes my works are based on selfish motives), rather than a desire to secure my position in heaven.  Christians who are not maintaining works are an unhappy lot.  I think they are like the type that hang out in anti-mormon web sites picking fights with the LDS.  They just want to argue instead of showing their faith.  They are so consumed with being right that they forget to be righteous.
     
    As to whether people are heretics who think works are needed for salvation- well, I'll leave that one up to God.  He is the only one who knows the heart.  I have heard Mormons that clearly have a testimony of faith in Christ and I have seen confused Baptists trying to earn their standing before God and vice/versa. All I can say is that Christ completely changed my life, my heart, my soul.  I know how He has saved me and I will be eternally grateful for how He has worked in my life.
  5. Like
    Irishcolleen got a reaction from Backroads in Modesty   
    One good thing about the LDS religion is that they emphasize modesty without pushing to the extreme of frumpiness. Most LDS women dress in a very classy manner from what I have seen.  When a Baptist preacher teaches on modesty it seems guaranteed that many of the ladies will take to wearing denim jumpers and turtlenecks. Ugh!!! My girls frequent LDS owned clothing stores online because they are modest and pretty. 
  6. Like
    Irishcolleen reacted to zil in Modesty   
    Your link gave me an error, so just in case others need it, I used google to find a link to your quote with &r=1 on the end, and that works, so I'm linking here ....  The quote you post seemed to me to be under a section specifically about pictures related to General Conference (not that it changes standards, but it provides context, as does the rest of the text surrounding the quote).
     
    Maybe the church just doesn't get photo submissions with immodest males in them, but I wanted to see what (if anything) they say about men, cuz modesty is not a female-specific problem or virtue, so it bothers me immensely when I see clothing / dress standards like the quote you posted and a complete absence of corresponding text related to males.  And then the conversation goes on as if only women were (capable of being) immodest.  IMO, that gap contributes to any number of problems.
     
    I also found this page: https://www.lds.org/topics/service/create/photo-standards?lang=eng which doesn't have the specifics your link did, though the standards easily cover both genders:
    ...going back to reading the rest of your post now.
  7. Like
    Irishcolleen got a reaction from mordorbund in What will post-resurrection life be like?   
    All people will be resurrected. But the saved and the righteous from the OT, and those who are saved during the tribulation will be resurrected to eternal life in the presence of God.  They have their names written in the book of life. Unbelievers will be resurrected and as their names are not found in the book of life, they will be cast into the lake of fire for eternity.
     
    That is why we don't believe in universal salvation. We believe that resurrection and eternal life are different things.
  8. Like
    Irishcolleen got a reaction from prisonchaplain in What will post-resurrection life be like?   
    I am glad God does not reveal everything about the hereafter.  I think it would be like opening a birthday present before my birthday.  What I do know is that God's creation on earth is pretty amazing, even if it is marred by sin.  I practically hyperventilate we we drive in the mountains, when I see waves crashing, and when I see the fall trees. Playing under a waterfall or just in a river (favorite Virginia pastimes) makes me squeal like an excited little kid.  
     
    1 Cor 2:9 says, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."
     
    So, I know it's going to be amazing! I just have to wait to open it!
  9. Like
    Irishcolleen reacted to prisonchaplain in What will post-resurrection life be like?   
    Unlike the Millenial Reign and the Post-Resurrection life, in general, there is plenty in the Bible about the nature of God and about creation.  We can argue the details, but there is scriptural material, and much intelligent writing has gone into the thinking on those issues. The Trinity doctrine, as well as the teaching of creation-out-of-nothing, did not come out of thin air.  In contrast, any offer from non-LDS of definitive doctrines and descriptions about the post-resurrection life would quickly become based on speculation.
     
    As for what the Bible does not contain, I would be loathe to say anything is "missing."  I would find nothing that God chose to omit "sad."  You perceive these because you believe you have the answers, and wish we did too.  However, from our perspective, God chose not to reveal these matters.  I join Job in admitting that, as a mere man, I am in no place to counsel God on what should and should not be included in his word. 
  10. Like
    Irishcolleen got a reaction from prisonchaplain in What will post-resurrection life be like?   
    All people will be resurrected. But the saved and the righteous from the OT, and those who are saved during the tribulation will be resurrected to eternal life in the presence of God.  They have their names written in the book of life. Unbelievers will be resurrected and as their names are not found in the book of life, they will be cast into the lake of fire for eternity.
     
    That is why we don't believe in universal salvation. We believe that resurrection and eternal life are different things.
  11. Like
    Irishcolleen got a reaction from prisonchaplain in Difference in doctrine   
    I believe that Jesus has always been God (part of the Triune God) from the beginning.  There was never a time when He wasn't God. He was pre-incarnate, incarnate and resurrected in a glorified body.  Here is a useful article from an evangelical perspective:
     
    http://www.valleybible.net/AdultEducation/ClassNotes/TheologySurvey/Christ/PreincarnateChrist.pdf
  12. Like
    Irishcolleen got a reaction from prisonchaplain in Difference in doctrine   
    "For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.  54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory," 1 Cor 15:53-54
     
    Christ's physical body, which was subject to death, put on the imperishable and immortal aspects of the spiritual body.  It is a spiritual, immoral body- it can't die again, it can walk through walls, it can instantly appear in one place and then another.  Yet it can still eat and Christ's has the wounds from the nail prints as a reminder of the gift He gave us. I don't think this represents a change in an unchangeable God, because the OT has several accounts of the pre-incarnate Christ appearing, such as in Daniel 3:25.
     
    If it was just Spirit, and physical body was left behind, there wouldn't have been victory over death, resurrection and hope.  One day we will be resurrected in a  immortal, imperishable body like Christ's.  I imagine I might spend the first few "days" of eternity walking through walls just for the novelty of it. :)
  13. Like
    Irishcolleen reacted to prisonchaplain in Difference in doctrine   
    That would be foreknowledge.  He knows us--knows what we will do--yet frees us to do so.
  14. Like
    Irishcolleen reacted to prisonchaplain in Difference in doctrine   
    Actually Pre-destination is held by one branch of Evangelicalism.  Most Pentecostals (the largest branch of Christianity, outside of Catholicism) do not agree with the doctrine.  We agree that God fore-knew who would reject him, but do not believe He created them to do so.  And, for the record, I am Pentecostal, and do not agree with Predestination.  So, if that's the topic, we all agree.
     
    I don't think it is, though.  The question of who God is and who we are are central differences in our doctrine.  Pre-mortal existance is a big part of that.
  15. Like
    Irishcolleen reacted to prisonchaplain in Difference in doctrine   
    At funerals we talk about seeing our dearly departed again.  It may also be that many expect to live with their family in heaven.  Yet, there is that scripture where Jesus says we'll be like the angels, not marrying or giving in marriage.  So, the traditional belief is different.  Yet, I'd never say that we will have less love for our families in heaven--nor that we will fail to enjoy seeing them again, immensely. 
  16. Like
    Irishcolleen reacted to prisonchaplain in Difference in doctrine   
    The nature of God, the nature of humanity, and then, to a lesser extent, the canon of scripture--yes, these stand as three big distinctives.
  17. Like
    Irishcolleen reacted to prisonchaplain in Heaven: Moving into God's House   
    Heaven—it’s the place God sends good people to, when they die, right?  According to a 2014 CBS News poll 82% of those who believe in heaven and hell expect to go to heaven when they die.
     
    Frankly, if people knew what heaven really was, some might not even want to go. Others would be even more eager.  Why?  It’s God’s house! Jesus says, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” Think of it!  God loves us so much that he’s inviting us to live with him—forever!
     
    Amazingly, it took God six days to create this world, but Jesus has been working on our new home for 2,000 years! Also, God described the newly created earth as “good,” but the new heaven is said to be prepared like a bride for her groom!
     
    In this kingdom, all sin is gone—including our past failures. No one will look at us, because of what we’ve done! No judgment! No shame! Only love, and God’s eternal presence. 
     
    Finally, all pain, sorrow, loneliness, and separation from God will be gone.  No more temptation to sin, no more doubting and second-guessing ourselves. Instead, our lives will be full of purpose and meaning, as we commune, and even rule with God.
     
    So, why will some not want to be there? It’s God house, and He is everywhere. Those determined to oppose God, resist him, and reject him will find themselves much more at home in that realm that is forever separated from God.

  18. Like
    Irishcolleen got a reaction from Blackmarch in Clearing up misconceptions: Jesus' brother   
    Ok, you just blew my mind.  I never knew that.  Now I'm ready for Jeopardy! :)
  19. Like
    Irishcolleen got a reaction from Vort in Clearing up misconceptions: Jesus' brother   
    Ok, you just blew my mind.  I never knew that.  Now I'm ready for Jeopardy! :)
  20. Like
    Irishcolleen reacted to prisonchaplain in Prisonchaplain's response to Halloween   
    Much of Halloween's customs come from the Celtic Pagan celebration of Samhain.  I don't pretend that today's revelers focus on that, any more than Christians do the customs that were borrowed from German paganism, for Christmas.  Still, the overall perception of tonight is of darkness, witches, goblins, demons, etc.  So, my family doesn't trick or treat, but we welcome trick or treaters with candy, and a scripture strip.  We're also up for parties and church-run "harvest festivals."  Our goal is not to condemn the culture, but simply to refrain from unnecessary endorsement of the worst of it. 
  21. Like
    Irishcolleen reacted to Ironhold in Prisonchaplain's response to Halloween   
    I admit that I was half-tempted to hand out copies of the newspaper I work for in addition to candy this year.
  22. Like
    Irishcolleen reacted to prisonchaplain in Prisonchaplain's response to Halloween   
    How do I respond to Halloween? 2 Cor 10:4-5: The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
     
    How do I respond to Halloween? "Here's some candy. God bless you, in the name of Jesus!"  :)
     
  23. Like
    Irishcolleen reacted to spamlds in Clearing up misconceptions: Jesus' brother   
    I'm not making any accusations here, because the tone on the replies has bee good so far.  However, I want to issue a caution to the original poster and the respondants. 
     
    For several years, I operated a site called the Society for the Prevention of Anti-Mormonism (S.P.A.M.) The site was not an apologetics site in the usual sense.  What we did was study anti-Mormon tactics and their methodology.  The answers to almost every gospel question, like the ones Byron posted are readily available on any number of good LDS sites.  The best site on the planet to get answers to these questions is the Church's main portal, LDS.org.
     
    The posting of several topics at once like this is very similar to what we called a "shotgun attack" on the S.P.A.M. web site.  You see these all over the Internet.  There are articles like "50 Questions for Mormons" or "20 Questions Every Mormon Must Answer," etc.  It is very often the case that anti-Mormons will join a discussion forum like this and then try to dominate all the discussions asking questions that either conflict with sectarian doctrines or address esoteric doctrines not essential to salvation.  They will toss out questions, either in a list, or in rapid-fire succession so that it is unlikely that a coherent presentation can be presented.
     
    The questions like, "Do Mormons believe Jesus and Satan are brothers?" or "Do Mormons believe they can become gods?" or "Does God live on planet Kolob?" fall into these two categories.  
     
    I'm not saying that Byron is anti-Mormon and I'm not judging his motives. I'm just cautioning that this is a tactic that is taught to evangelical Protestants in "anti-cult" seminars hosted by their churches.  It is just exactly that: a tactic.  When they apply the tactic, it is often without sincere intent, or with the sincere intent to instill doubt and contention among faithful Mormons.  In particular, they hope the questions themselves will cause doubt to germinate in the heart of weaker LDS members.  
     
    The "shotgun attack" used by anti-Mormons is one technique that Mormons should be aware of and able to identify.  Over the course of several years, we analyzed hundreds of anti-Mormon articles, books, videos, and websites and determined that anti-Mormon attacks fall into one of six tactics. I'll list them here just for information.
     
    1. Use of non-authoritative sources and out-of-context quotations
    2. Attack the story of the Book of Mormon's origin, not its contents
    3. Distort Mormon doctrines by comparing them to the unscriptural teachings of Christian creeds
    4. When all else fails, lie!
    5. Use slander, personal attacks, and character assassination
    6. Accuse your opponent of doing the very thing you are doing
     
    Again, I'm not saying Byron is an anti-Mormon, but when I saw several topics posted by a new forum member, whose profile says "Christian," my "Spidey-senses" went active.  This has all the hallmarks of a "shotgun attack."  Hopefully, the OP will participate in respectful discussion by sincerely considering responses with an open mind.  In the end, our position is to seek truth from God, through the Holy Spirit to know the truth of anything.  
  24. Like
    Irishcolleen got a reaction from theSQUIDSTER in What does it mean to be mormon?   
    I am sorry you experienced that.  It was very wrong. Hatred is not a good tool for evangelizing and they will answer to God.  Not all Christians are like that.
  25. Like
    Irishcolleen got a reaction from mirkwood in Clearing up misconceptions: Jesus' brother   
    Yeah, that is a very good explanation. It does seem to say that Satan is "cut from the same cloth" as Christ- which would offend Evangelicals. We Evangelicals want to be like God, but tend to get huffy when anyone suggests they can "be gods". To us it seems to dishonor God. But, to the LDS, it speaks of eternal promise.